20050130

I think by most accounts, expecially those who wants Iraqi to enjoy the same political freedom and power as in Western (and Eastern) democracies, today's election will be a success. Turn out perhaps is over 70%. As expected, polling stations are lively in Shia and Kurds dominated areas. But is is also remarkeable that there are voters in places like Falluja! Who would have though eh? ;)
Cheers to the Iraqi people for they truly appreciate the value of democracy, risking personal safety inorder to vote.

20050125

A couple of interesting translation from Arab Editorials recently from MEMRI. The first distinguishes Islamism as a political movement premised on the religion of Islam, but should not and must not be viewed as representative of Islam the religion. A very good point for us westerners. The second is actually a compilation of 3 editorials highlighting the fact that Arab terrorists are not the economically oppressed and disenfranchised Arabs but frequently come from educated and affluent Arab families. Again this highlight the driving force of terrorism is political and not economic. Together with Zarqawi recent declaration of war against Democratic principles present a unifying recognition of the true nature the terrorism. Some have taken to use the term "Islamofascist", a term I have been reluctant to adopt personally, but certainly is gain greater credibility as the nature of terrorists is revealed. Most importantly, these articles suggest that the Arabs are also coming to the recognition that terrorism is a war against Arabs and Islam and they too must fight it with vigor.

20050120

We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.

This is a declaration that our national interests, as manifested in our enduring valuation of freedom, can and must co-exist with the popular aspirations of the oppressed elsewhere. Perhaps this is a step toward the recognition that we are our brothers' keepers.

About Me

Neomodernism is a philosophical position based on modernism but addressing the critique of modernism by postmodernism, namely that universalism and critical thinking are the two essential elements of human rights and that human rights create a superiority of some cultures over others. Hence equality and relativism are "mutually contradictory". Thus NeoModernism has a moral code.